s i x t e e n

"Juliet. I'm here. Open your eyes." Is the first sentence I hear when I open my eyes.

And the voice belongs to Romeo.

I'm in a carriage with him. Alone. It's going up a hill.

"What's happening?" I hold my head as it is throbbing with pain, probably due to the poison.

"We escaped. The King handed you to me in the evening. We are on our way out of Verona. It's over." He hugs me, but it feels as if my heart is broken.

"Stolen moments that we stole as the curtain fell, it was never enough. Now I get to hold you forever." He whispers, calming my heartbeat.

"But I don't get to hold my family." I break the hug.

"We'll make a family." He smiles.

That's when the carriage stops abruptly. Romeo leaves me to check up on it. I stay in my seat, reconsidering the situation.

But I can't return now. It's finally over.

"The wheel got stuck in a rock and broke. We'll have to look for another ride." Romeo informs me from the window.

I take the two bags in the carriage with me outside and Romeo carries it on our way.

It's night. The stars are twinkling brightly, giving hope for a better future. Our future.

A carriage stops by and a lady comes down. Upon seeing me, she pauses and runs here.

"You're alive !" Rosaline hugs me.

This is not going according to the plan.

"You must be mistaken by the night, my lady. She's my wife." Romeo turns away from us and answers in a rough voice.

"You're abducting her!" She pulls him to face her and the look on her face is pure terror.

"ROMEO!" Her eyes widen.

"Before you misunderstand any abduction, we are married." I stand up for my husband.

"You got married?! But you are married to the King. How dare you--"

"Didn't he cheat on you?" Romeo asks me.

I don't know where this is going.

"He who could not attain one of the Capulet daughters wishes to marry the other, when you couldn't get me, you settled for my sister? Are these your standards?" Rosaline asks Romeo.

"Trust me, my standards are high. I never knew until I met Juliet." Romeo answers.

"Juliet, come with me. We'll return to the palace. I won't let you run with this pseudo." She pulls my hand.

"It's mutual, Rosaline. I'll be fine. Forget this encounter had ever taken place and deem me as dead. I wish this." I snatch my hand from her.

"You thought I can handle it? Tybalt's death broke me enough, and you dying killed me. But apparently, you decided to run away with his murderer." She accuses me.

"She said she doesn't want to return. That's her choice. Leave." Romeo points at her carriage.

"And here I was, wishing to see your grave and grieve." She leaves.

"You did not just command her." I gasp.

"I like to push my luck." He smiles.

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We find a carriage soon after. We pretend to be traders about to go for our next voyage, and the driver buys our lie.

"You look like a lovely couple." The driver comments and we give him a warm smile.

The journey goes without another hussle and we reach the next morning.

Mantua is the city Romeo was exiled to. He has a small house, with a large garden. The place is perfect for our new beginning.

"We're here. How's it?" He asks curiously.

"Incredible." I smile.

"I love you." He looks in my eyes and I give him my biggest smile.

We go in. The place needs a bit of dusting and I begin as soon as we reach.

We have to begin from nothing.

Romeo takes out supplies and puts in our room. The house has two rooms, a hall and a kitchen joined.

"Where do we keep the stone?" I ask him from the hall while he is busy in the room.

Hearing my question, he comes out with a frown.

"Aren't we using it ...now?" He asks.

"I don't particularly think it's a great idea taking into consideration that Rosaline found out about us and for everyone I'm dead." I shrug.

"Probably. We should keep it safe though. Do you know how to activate it?"

"Yes. We have to place our bare hands on it and pray for whatever we wish." I reply.

"Can we try it for something else instead?" He points outside the house and I look there.

"For what?"

"I'm in exile. People don't actually act well with ones in exile." He says.

"Right. We can try it once we are settled."

We go back to our work. It takes us two days to settle in. We used the stone once. Romeo has started a small business and I am planning to open my sword classes for women.

Things are going well for once.

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.

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"Look who I've brought home!" Romeo returns home in the evening and I come out of the rooms.

"Who's it?" I ask with a smile.

"Friar Laurence." He answers.

My eyes widen on seeing the Friar. It's been more than a month since I saw him. He looks well.

"Welcome to our house." Romeo exclaims.

"Our home." I correct.

"It is beautiful. I'm happy to see you both starting a new life here. My prayers are for you." He looks up and prays.

"What brings you to Mantua?" I ask.

"I'm a bearer of sad news tonight." He looks down with grief.

"What happened?" I ask Romeo instead.

"I haven't a clue. He said he'll tell me when we reach home." He answers.

"Romeo, my friend, your mother can no longer smell the fragrance of your flowers, no longer sew you shawls to protect you from the cold, no longer hold your hand when you need. She was loved till her last breath. But Alas! God takes those who he cherishes." He sighs.

"It's not possible! She was fine just few days ago when I met her." He collapses on the chair. I rub his back with assurance.

"At that time, she was unaware of your exile. She was told you are out for business. But when she found out about your exile few nights ago, she died of heartbreak. Her motherly love was surreal." He prays above.

"No! You must've misunderstood. Did you take her to the best of the nurses? She can't die!" He yells with pain.

I cannot help but hug him.

"We can do nothing to change what's already done. May her soul rest in peace." Friar says.

"May she rest in peace." I repeat.

Romeo meets my eyes and something changes. Is he regretting us running away? He can't. I left everything for him.

"You should pay her grave a visit. She died for loving you." Friar Laurence breaks our eye contact.

"If loving you is a sin, I'll accept the punishment."

My thoughts are brought back when Romeo stands abruptly.

"I'll leave tonight. Pack my bags Juliet." He starts heading out.

"No!" I stop him.

"I'll be back in a week. Trust me." He gives me a reassuring smile.

I cannot hold him back. He is needed in Verona more than here.

"I'll be waiting."